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Phinney Ridge resident stars in Taproot Theatre’s production of The Odyssey

When Taproot Theatre launches its 35th Anniversary Season next week with The Odyssey, Phinney Ridge resident Mark Chamberlin takes the stage as Odysseus.

From a Victorian miser on a journey of the soul to an ancient warrior on an odyssey of epic proportions, Chamberlin has played it all. Fresh out of his role of Ebenezer Scrooge in ACT’s A Christmas Carol, he joins the cast of The Odyssey—a mythic tale of epic proportions re-told by playwright Mary Zimmerman with her trademark humor, witty twists and imagination. Homer’s ancient Greek epic comes alive in this production—with 13 actors portraying over 85 characters—with mythological monsters, gods and adventurers and one of the most enduring stories in history.

Coming straight from A Christmas Carol, Mark had just one week before rehearsals began for The Odyssey. When asked what it was like switching gears from Scrooge to Odysseus, Mark had this to say.

“I’ve played Scrooge before, so the basics were in place. With The Odyssey I have the opportunity to invent from the ground floor.”

Models of Odysseus have been played by numerous actors over the years, from George Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou to Kirk Douglas in Ulysses.

“Great characters like Odysseus offer such a huge range of opportunities for any actor,” Mark said, when asked what it was like to step into this role. “Maybe that’s why we never agree on a definitive interpretation.”

In addition to roles on various Seattle stages, Mark has appeared on Broadway and in a number of film and television projects. In addition, he is the president of the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter’s board of directors, and also serves on the boards of the UW School of Drama and New Century Theatre Company.

The Odyssey—an adaptation based on Robert Fitzgerald’s translation of Homer’s poem, and directed by producing artistic director Scott Nolte—kicks off the 2011 season with an opening night on February 4. The production runs through March 5, with previews on February 2 and 3. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.taproottheatre.org.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate..